What is a James Lee Byars work worth?
1932–1997 · Price guide from past auction results
Half of the 85 works by James Lee Byars with a published auction price sold between $772Sign up free to see and $8,190Sign up free to see, and the median is $2,206Sign up free to see. In the last five years the median was $1,822Sign up free to see across 28 sales. These are past auction results, not a valuation: medium, size, condition and provenance all change what a particular work brings.
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James Lee Byars prices by medium
- Auction results
- 91
- Sold rate
- 93%
- Active at auction
- 2004–2025
- Median price
- $2.2kSign up free to see
- Record price
- $761kSign up free to see The Figure of Death, Phillips, May 2015
| Medium | Priced sales | Typical range | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Works on Paper | 39 | $1.8k–$10.9kSign up free to see | $5kSign up free to see |
| Prints | 19 | $519–$1.8kSign up free to see | $1.3kSign up free to see |
| Sculpture | 3 | $767–$425kSign up free to see | $31.3kSign up free to see |
| Paintings | 2 | $772–$28.6kSign up free to see | $14.7kSign up free to see |
| Photographs | 2 | $715–$960Sign up free to see | $838Sign up free to see |
Top auction houses: Kornfeld (29), Wright (18), Bonhams (16)
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Typical range is the middle half of priced sales (USD at the sale-date rate). Past auction results, not a valuation.
Prices by size
| Size (longest side) | Priced sales | Typical range | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small (under 30 cm) | 31 | $315–$1.8kSign up free to see | $780Sign up free to see |
| Mid-size (30–75 cm) | 24 | $913–$4.1kSign up free to see | $2.2kSign up free to see |
| Large (75–150 cm) | 11 | $8.5k–$17.1kSign up free to see | $12.3kSign up free to see |
| Very large (over 150 cm) | 11 | $8.5k–$57.1kSign up free to see | $18.8kSign up free to see |
Recent James Lee Byars sales
- Gold Peak of Kunsthalle Bern, Flexible dimensions — $1,384Sign up free to see, Kornfeld, Sep 9, 2025
- Selfportrait, White bread shaped into a ball, laid on silk cloth, placed in a frame of light b — $2,769Sign up free to see, Kornfeld, Sep 9, 2025
- Beuys Makes Documenta 8 — $881Sign up free to see, Kornfeld, Sep 9, 2025
- No Basel Today, Gouache and grease pencil on paper with gold glitter — $755Sign up free to see, Kornfeld, Sep 9, 2025
- Home, Gold paper, folded several times, inscribed in pencil and with 7 shells in ascen — $2,769Sign up free to see, Kornfeld, Sep 9, 2025
- Key of Venice, Circa 1981/1982 — $2,391Sign up free to see, Kornfeld, Sep 9, 2025
- 24hrs of Byars at Bellamy, Seidenpapier, gefaltet und geklebt — $1,756Sign up free to see, Van Ham, Oct 1, 2024
- The Introduction of the Sages to the Alps, 3 gold-plated steel balls, printed all round, wrapped in tissue paper, in plasti — $767Sign up free to see, Kornfeld, Sep 10, 2024
Questions about James Lee Byars prices
What is a James Lee Byars work worth?
Based on 85 priced auction sales recorded by ArtSell, works by James Lee Byars have sold for a median of $2,206, and half of them sold between $772 and $8,190. Medium, size, condition, subject and provenance all affect the price of a particular work; these are past auction results, not a valuation.
What is the most expensive work by James Lee Byars sold at auction?
The highest price in ArtSell’s records is $761,000 for “The Figure of Death” at Phillips in May 2015.
Which James Lee Byars medium sells for the most?
By median price, sculpture lead with $31,250 (3 sales).
How often do James Lee Byars works sell at auction?
93% of the 91 lots recorded between 2004 and 2025 sold.
How can I sell a James Lee Byars work?
Request a free auction estimate on ArtSell: send photos and details, and our specialists will reply with an estimate. There is no obligation.
ArtSell has recorded 91 auction results for James Lee Byars between 2004 and 2025, and 85 of them sold (93%).
Sell a James Lee Byars workAll James Lee Byars auction resultsPrice chartJames Lee Byars works on paperJames Lee Byars printsJames Lee Byars sculptureFree auction estimate